Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-06-23
Washington Letter
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON. JUNE 20. 1887.


WASHINGTON. JUNE 20. 1887.
The first civil service examination
under the new rules of promotion re-
Gently adopted and approved by the
President was held at the rooms Of the
CIVIL Service Commission Saturday.
1t was an examination of clerks Of the
Quartermaster Generals Office, those
of the second class being examined for
promotion to the third class and those
of the third class for promotion to the
fourth class. Thirty-eight clerks pre-
sented themselves for examination, and
they were placed at, desks reminding
spectator Of school room. The ex-
animation was divided under six heads
called subjects. The first subject con-
sisted OF the correction Of paragraphs
prepared for the occasion. The candi.
date was required to re-write these par
agraphs, correcting the photography,
the punctuation, and any misuse of
of capital letters. The second subject
was arithmetic, embracing five simple
examples in figures. The third subject
was the proper construction Of sentences
The candidate was given five ingram
NAUTICAL sentences, the syntax of which
he or she was to correct. The fourth
subject was letter writing, each candl.
date beng required to write letter to
the head Of the department., the matter
Of it being briefly outlined. The fifth
subject comprised FIVE practical ques-
ton relating to the internal manage
ment of the division of the bureau with
which the candidates are respectively
attached. These questions the candi-
date was required to answer in writing
The sixth subject was entitled "eficien-
cy," and with this the Civil Service
Commission have practically nothing to
do. 1t is left for the chief clerk of the
bureau to which the candidate is at
tached to rate the efficiency of the clerk
Efficiency covers industry, accuracy,
punctuality, diligence, ETC. and the
chief clerk, who is presumed to be best
informed as to the subordinates record
in this respect, is permitted to ill out
this part of the examination.
The battle-ilag controversy no Ion
ger excites the great multitude, who,
approaching that the mercury is rising
into the nineties, seek spontaneously
some less heating diversion, The poll
ticians, however, keep the matter alive
for time, while they calculate suppos-
ed gains and losses, speculate whether
so and so will forgive the making of the
order, or such and such will forgive the
resembling Of it, and shift responsibility
in the matter with attaching praise or
blame from A to 4 and back again
through the alphabet. A feeble inter-
est Is also manifested in the discussion
Of the question Of the best disposition
of the flags by Congress. Some say
make public exhibition Of the flags
in accordance with the law under which
they were collected. Others say, if pub
lie opinion follows that Of Rome in de-
string to suppress the continuous and
boastful parade of victories won from
once rebellions fellow-ctizens, the flags
should at least be destroyed. As
compromise however, most people will
be content to have the flags moulded in
boxes at the War Department.
There are no fewer that 3,342 appli-
cations filed with the Inter State Com
merce Commission for clerkships. 1t
will be necessary to employ force of
about dozen clerks, but that number
will scarcely be sufficient to do more
than just read the immense amount Of
correspondence which is received by tie
commission daily and which consists Of